I’m a hungry mama and winter definitely brings more cravings than my pregnancy did! When it’s cold out and I’m inside trying to stay warm, my body screams for tasty comforting dishes to help fight the winter blues. Crunchy Mac & Cheese, Classic Chicken Pot Pie, Meatloaf Muffins and Creamy Broccoli Pie are just a few of the dishes I have been making in my search for the ultimate comfort food. Whip up one of these tasty dishes and dig in!

Crunchy Mac & Cheese: This dish is a fave of both adults and children for it’s creamy goodness. If you want to make it a healthier meal for the family, throw in broccoli or cauliflower after mixing the cheese in, right before baking it with the crumb topping.

Directions: First melt butter. Once bubbly add flour and mix until golden, then slowly add milk, stirring until thickens. Once thick, remove from heat and add mustard, salt and pepper and cheese. Mix well, then add pasta mixing until all combined. Place pasta in a baking dish and top with the panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Bake on 350° for about 20 minutes until crust is crispy and cheese is bubbling.

Classic Chicken Pot Pie: My husband loves chicken potpie, however, his only reference for it is the frozen kind you find at the supermarket! I knew I had to remedy that and so I called my sister Tova for her easy, classic recipe for creamy chicken potpie. She uses leftovers from her soup on Sunday night. I never have leftover soup after Shabbos, so I cooked chicken breast cut into cubes and used a frozen veggie mix. If you don’t like the classic veggie mix of peas, carrots and corn you can use broccoli, potatoes and sweet potatoes, cooked and cubed. Also, if pressed for time you can throw the mixture into a ready-made deep-dish piecrust and top with puff pastry.

Directions: Saute onion, then add chicken cooking until its no longer pink. Remove from heat and set aside. Then add veggie mix and celery to pan and sauté for several minutes before adding the chicken back to the pan. Add broth and flour, and combine well. Season with salt and pepper. If you want to make the sauce thicker, simply add more flour. Place the chicken and veggie mix into baking dish, top with pastry dough and cook on 350° for 20 – 35 minutes until filling is bubbly and crust is golden brown.

Mini Meatloaf Muffins: My sister in law Sarrit makes this recipe in the form of a loaf, however I wanted to serve it as muffins so everyone could grab their own. (Also, I adore all mini foods!)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350° degrees. Combine the first 4 ingredients (before ground beef) in a bowl. Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, minced onion, egg substitute, beef soup powder, chopped garlic, spices, and 1/3 of the ketchup mixture in a large mixing bowl. Place meatloaf mixture into two muffin pans (will make about 12 muffins). Coat top of muffins with remaining ketchup mixture and bake for 20 – 30 minutes.

Creamy Broccoli Pie: My sister Tova is one of my biggest inspirations in the kitchen. I am always amazed at how quickly she can throw together a gourmet dinner and still have time to bake cinnamon buns or some other delicious treat for dessert! She gave me this recipe several years ago and I make it at least twice a month for Shabbat dinner.

When Nina Safar is not updating recipes on Kosher in the Kitch, she enjoys playing hostess. Never having too much time in the kitchen, she likes recipes that taste great and are easy to make. Kosher in the Kitch features recipes from experienced foodies as well as experimenting cooks. You don’t have to be a chef to cook a good meal! For more great menu ideas and tasty recipes, check out www.kosherinthekitch.com for your next favorite dish.

About the Author:When Nina Safar is not updating recipes on Kosher in the Kitch, she enjoys playing hostess. Never having too much time in the kitchen, she likes recipes that taste great and are easy to make. Kosher in the Kitch features recipes from experienced foodies as well as experimenting cooks. You don’t have to be a chef to cook a good meal! For more great menu ideas and tasty recipes, check out www.kosherinthekitch.com for your next favorite dish. Share your get-fit tips, weight loss battles, and stay-in-shape recipes by emailing nina@kosherinthekitch.com and visiting the Kosher in the Kitch fan page on Facebook.

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